Mary Butkowski

Mary Ellen Butkowski, 74, a resident of Edgewater for 33 years and previously of Chesapeake, Va., died of congestive heart failure Sept. 20 at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Mrs. Butkowski was born Sept. 4, 1934, in Baltimore to the late Charles and Mamie Cummings.

A homemaker, she was an outstanding bowler and loved going to casinos and traveling.

She was preceded in death by eight siblings.

Survivors include her husband of 32 years, John Butkowski; three sons, Bill Byrd of Alpharetta, Ga., David Byrd of Lake City, Fla., and Bruce Byrd Jr. of Lenoir, N.C.; one brother, Everte Quasney of Baltimore; one sister, Marilyn Davis of Baltimore; and 12 grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, and interment will be in Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville.

Online condolences may be made at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

Stanley Lemon

Stanley G. Lemon, 81, of Annapolis died of complications from an infection Sept. 18 at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Mr. Lemon was born Dec. 21, 1926, in Wilmington, Del., and earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1946.

He served in the Navy for two years.

He began his engineering career as a trainee in General Electric Co.'s Test Program, then moved into a permanent assignment as an electrical engineer for radar development. He helped create anti-submarine warfare sonobouys, and became manager of the sonobouy engineering group.

He joined the Chesapeake Instrument Corp. in 1960, where he became vice-president of engineering and a member of the board of directors and led the development of the passive sonar towed array sensor for the Office of Naval Research.

From 1979 to 1982, he worked as the assistant director of the NATO Undersea Research Center in Italy, winning commendations for excellence.

He then returned to work for Chesapeake as chief scientist, and continued to offer insights in acoustics to various corporations during retirement.

He was known for his broad knowledge, his wisdom and his leadership, his family said. He loved music, art, wine, good company and beauty.

Survivors include his wife of over 25 years, Angela Carle; two sons, Alfredo and Mauro Maccari; and five grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Hardesty Funeral Home, 12 Ridgely Ave.; funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home, and interment will be in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 455 Defense Highway Annapolis, MD 21401.

Online condolences may be made at www.hardestyfuneralhome.com.

Anita O'Connor

Anita Bertha O'Connor, 85, of Annapolis and previously of Beltsville, died of respiratory failure Sept. 20 at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Mrs. O'Connor was born Dec. 13, 1922, in Marlboro, Mass., to the late Victoria Marcure Meaney and Walter J. Marcure.

A homemaker, she was a member of Riva Trace Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, James J. O'Connor.

Survivors include three sons, J. Michael O'Connor of Columbia, Donald J. O'Connor of Galesville and Thomas J. O'Connor of Annapolis; and two daughters, Kathleen M. Cramer of Annapolis and Theresa M. Cox of Arnold.

Funeral services and interment are private. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Annapolis, 815 Bay Ridge Ave., Annapolis, MD 21403.

Online condolences may be made at www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com.

Wanda Paxton

Wanda Cecile Paxton, 72, a resident of Annapolis for over 40 years and previously of Arlington, Va., died of cancer Sept. 18 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., after a five-month illness.

Ms. Paxton was born April 29, 1936, in Covington, Va. She graduated from Anne Arundel Community College and earned a bachelor's degree in gerontology from the University of Maryland.

She worked as a file clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigations and as an admissions clerk at Anne Arundel Medical Center, and retired as a graphic artist from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

She taught art at Anne Arundel Community College and displayed her paintings in the U.S. Capitol and the Maryland State House. She also did art therapy with area nursing homes.

She was a member of the Maryland Federation of Art and the Red Hat Society.

She loved to travel, visiting Egypt, Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, Hawaii, Mexico and Italy. She also enjoyed genealogy, her friends and family, and her cats.

Survivors include her companion of over 20 years, Charlie Cadle; one son, Don Henderson of Elkridge; one daughter, Deborah Lafond of St. Leonard in Calvert County; and five grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater; funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children's National Medical Center Foundation, Attention: Marian Brodskey, 111 Michigan Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20010; put "Wanda Paxton Heme/Onc Art Therapy Program, 202-476-3098" in the memo line.

Online condolences may be made at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Pettit

Mary Genevieve Pettit, 76, of Edgewater died Sept. 18 at South River Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

Mrs. Pettit was born June 22, 1932, in New Jersey.

She retired from Georgetown University's Vincent T. Lombardi Cancer Research Center.

She was a devoted Jehovah's Witness for 32 years, and loved reading and talking about the Bible. She also enjoyed drawing and making jewelry.

Survivors include her husband of 15 years, Luther Pettit; two sons, John Cavanagh of Wilmington, N.C., and Jeff Cavanagh of Edgewater; three daughters, Helenann Cox of Mayo, Joellen Reeves of Jacksonville, Fla., and Nora Cavanagh of Springfield, Va.; one brother; one sister, Anna Berardenelli of Cherry Hill, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 65 Tarragon Lane in Edgewater.

Online condolences may be made at www.hardestyfuneralhome.com.

Eileen Soria

Eileen McGrath Soria, 94, of Annapolis since 1995, died of metastatic breast cancer Sept. 16 in her daughter's home.

Mrs. Soria was born March 6, 1914, in Chicago to the late John McGrath and Annie Roche.

She began working for the Social Security Administration in 1939, and retired from the Federal Tariff Commission in 1980.

She was a parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills for around 45 years, where she was a member of St. Mary's Sodality. She was a parishioner at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Annapolis since 1995.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Lawrence Soria.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary S. Powell of Annapolis and Anne E. and Kathleen T. Soria of Frederick.

Mrs. Soria donated her remains to the Georgetown University School of Medicine Anatomical Donor Program. A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester St.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or the American Cancer Society, Gambrills Office, 1041 Route 3 N., Building A, Gambrills, MD 21054.

Frances Smith

Frances Virginia Sullivan Smith, 83, of Arnold since 1970 and previously of the Eastern Shore, died Sept. 19 in her home.

Mrs. Smith was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Fredericksburg, Va., and was raised in Annapolis.

She worked as a claims administrator for Nationwide Insurance Company.

She was a member of Gloria Dei! Lutheran Church, the Ladies of the Elks, the Order of the Eastern Star and the Couples Club of Arnold.

She enjoyed bowling and camping.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, retired county Police Capt. Lloyd Marshall Smith and George Mullikin.

Survivors include two sons, Donald Smith of Arnold and Evan Smith of Alexandria, Va.; one brother, Herbert Sullivan of Ridgely in Caroline County; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Gloria Dei! Lutheran Church, 461 College Parkway in Arnold, and interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Annapolis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church, 461 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.